A red hot artist lineup and a sizzling culinary stage. Jazz and country music. Great wines and craft beers. Street fairs and Broadway shows. A legendary thoroughbred horse race watch party and high performance sailboats racing on San Francisco Bay. The opera celebrates its centennial and the ballet is 90 years young. This spring, May and June have got it all.
MAY
Through May 14
Legion of Honor | Sargent and Spain
Churches, coastlines, gardens, royal palaces, dancing — vibrant works by the prolific artist John Singer Sargent (1856 – 1925. Immerse yourself in the rich culture of Spain in this exhibition’s exclusive stop on the West Coast. 100 34th Ave. famsf.org
Through July 23
de Young | Ansel Adams In Our Time
Lush gelatin silver photographs of national parks, Ansel Adams (born in San Francisco in 1902) is a giant of 20th century photography whose images are icons of the American wilderness. 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive. famsf.org
Through August 13
San Francisco Opera | A Centennial Celebration
Rarely seen costumes and artifacts from the company’s first 100 years and elaborate garments worn by operatic superstars are on display at SFO Museum in Harvey Milk Terminal 1. sfopera.com/seasons/2022-23-season/airport-exhibit
Through January 7, 2024
San Francisco Ballet at 90 | “Unveiled”
View 18 unique, curated costumes from SF Ballet’s new works festivals displayed in SFO’s International Terminal. sfomuseum.org/exhibitions/san-francisco-ballet-90
4
SFJAZZ Gala
Founder and Executive Artistic Director Randall Kline is honored with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award. A visionary who grew a small community festival into a San Francisco cultural institution, one of the world’s most influential jazz organizations, will step down in November. Hosted by NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves. SFJAZZ, 201 Franklin St. sfjazz.org/tickets/events/2023-gala
4 – 5
“Black Mona Lisa Tour: Volume One”
Grammy, Emmy, and two-time Tony winner Billy Porter delivers passion and joy with his first-ever career-spanning pop music concert tour, a 90-minute powerhouse event featuring chart-topping hits “Love Is on the Way” and “Love Yourself.” Two consecutive evenings at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre. Billyporter.com or broadwaysf.com
5 – 6
Kentucky Derby at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Garden
Festivities kick off with a live concert by award-winning, multi-platinum and GRAMMY-nominated country music star Jimmie Allen, with special guest William Beckhamm, followed by the largest West Coast watch party of the 149th Run for the Roses®. kj.com/kyderby
5 – 7
Inspire Napa Valley
Spring Wine Weekend is in its fourth year to support national funding for both Alzheimer’s disease research and care for affected families affected in Northern California. Participating wineries include Round Pond Estate, Abreu Vineyards, and Harlan Estate. inspirenapavalley.org
6 – 7
SailGP
A two-day action-packed spectacle returns to San Francisco for the Season 3 Grand Final. Nine teams push the limits to decide the winner. SailGP Race Village at Marina Green. sailgp.com/races/season-3/united-states-sail-grand-prix-san-francisco/overview
12
A Taste of TEL HI
An evening of live performances, Northern California wines, a three-course meal to benefit children’s educational programs while celebrating “The Mayors of San Francisco.” With auctioneer Franco Finn, voice of the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Park. telhi.org/taste
13
Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival
Second annual event features 40+ California wineries and nationally-known jazz artists including Paula West, the Marcus Shelby Quintet, and the John Santos Sextet. Food vendors, wines, craft beers on Main Street, 12 – 5 p.m. Tickets: hmbwineandjazzfest.com
13 – 14
Mill Valley Music Festival
A two-day, all-ages celebration of local arts and culture. Musical lineup includes CAKE, Michael Franti, Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew of the Talking Heads performing Remain in Light, Tank and The Bangas, Durand Jones, The Dip, and more. Millvalleymusicfest.com
16 – 21
1776 | San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
The Broadway revival national tour of the Tony Award-winning show, 1776, retells the story in a new production from directors Jeffrey L. Page (Violet) and Diane Paulus (Waitress) with actors representing all of the “humans who weren’t in the room when it happened.” broadwaysanjose.com/shows/1776
18 – 21
Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience
A weekend-long event showcasing the region’s makers—farmers, growers, winemakers, and chefs—and great Sonoma wines. Michelin-starred and James Beard award-winning chefs, world-renowned wine experts, winemakers and grape growers come together in one place. healdsburgwineandfood.com
18 – 21
Vida OLE! Napa
In support of nonprofit OLE Health programs and services, an invitation-only Visionaries Luncheon is followed by a Vintner Dinners hosted by Darioush Winery and Louis M. Martini, plus a Dinner & Auction at Sullivan Rutherford Estate and a Farewell Brunch at Sinegal Estate Winery. olehealth.org/auction
21
Bay to Breakers
The freewheeling footrace has been a City by the Bay staple since May 1912 and the wackiness continues in 2023. From the Embarcadero to Ocean Beach, from about 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. facebook.com/baytobreakers
23 – June 18
The Book of Mormon | Orpheum Theatre
THE BOOK OF MORMON North American tour (Photo by Julieta Cervantes)
Back by popular demand, this show is “musical theater, missionary style.” A nine-time Tony Award® winning Best Musical. Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St. broadwaysf.com
24 – 26
Spring Festival | San Francisco Ballet School
Performances across three evenings at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts feature a world premiere by Myles Thatcher, SF Ballet Soloist. The oldest professional ballet academy in America has a fundraising dinner at the Four Seasons San Francisco on May 25 to honor SF Ballet School Director Patrick Armand in his final season as director. sfballet.org/support-us/special-events/2023springfestival
26 – 28
BottleRock Napa Valley
“Three days of music + food + wine + craft brew” with a red hot artist lineup and a sizzling culinary stage. Festival headliners for 2023: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Duran Duran, The Smashing Pumpkins, Post Malone, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, and more. bottlerocknapavalley.com
JUNE
3, 6, 9, 18, 21, 24, 27 and July 1
San Francisco Opera | Madame Butterfly
Music Director Eun Sun Kim conducts a new staging of Puccini’s heartbreaking drama from director Amon Miyamoto. Costume designs by late fashion icon Kenzō Takada adorn a cast starring Karah Son, Michael Fabiano, Hyona Kim, Lucas Meachem, and Julius Ahn. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. sfopera.com
4, 10, 20, 23, 28
San Francisco Opera | Die Frau ohne Schatten
Strauss’ rarely performed masterpiece returns for the first time in over 30 years in a vibrant production designed by acclaimed artist David Hockney. Former San Francisco Opera Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles conducts. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. sfopera.com
13, 17, 22, 25, 30
San Francisco Opera | El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego
Journey back to the Day of the Dead in 1957, through this bold world of desire and release in a pioneering new opera by Bay Area composer Gabriela Lena Frank and the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. sfopera.com